DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook is on a roadshow to states with a strong party presence - starting with Penang tonight, followed by Johor and Selangor as the last leg before the congress on Saturday.
His mission is to explain to some 4,000 eligible delegates the decision whether DAP stays within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) - led Madani national unity government or exits and remains an integral part of the ruling coalition.
Loke stressed that the decision lies solely with the 4,000 delegates, who would gather in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend for the congress to determine the future of the party.
A party veteran in Penang shared that he is leaning towards the party remaining in government, echoing what Perak DAP adviser Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said last weekend.
Several other leaders have also voiced a similar stance that DAP would be further hurt if they exit rather than stay and fight on with their comrades under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The veteran said that Loke is expected to underline that the party has not lost its entire non-Muslim support, with the Chinese still solidly behind the party despite the latter's own loss in the Chennah state seat in Negeri Sembilan.
"If we leave, we may antagonise the Chinese, who can then say that we quit with the first sign of distress. We must face up to the challenges." - August 12, 2026.
